Interview with Sara Devoe

Residing in Brooklyn, Sara Devoe is a Dream Pop/Grunge Rock artist. 

From Upstate, NY, Sara began releasing music in 2021, during the pandemic. It was during the lockdown she learned how to play guitar, despite a limb deformity on her left hand, and wrote and released her debut EP "Harsh," produced by Abby Cole and Mixed/Mastered by Slowaves. Since then, Sara has been experimenting with several different sounds, and most recently released her single “am i pretty in the light?” via Nice Guys Records. Sara tends to tackle topics of emotional vulnerability, a lack of self of worth, and toxicity in her lyrics. 

 the interview

How did you discover your passion for music? Was there a decisive moment in your life when you thought you would like to make music?

I had been interested in singing/songwriting since I was a kid. I remember writing songs in a diary as a really young age, and also always wanting solos in choir in elementary school. The passion was always there, but I struggled with imposter syndrome heavily, and didn’t take a shot at seriously learning how to make music until college (2020).

The pandemic, although an equally devastating and horrid period for a lot of people, was a very peaceful time for me. I had no responsibilities, college was virtual and very easy, and I was living at home with my mom and brother in Upstate, NY. I miss that time deeply. I had all this time to make music, with no interruptions. Being fortunate enough to have experiences that sort of peace is something I’m very grateful for, and it’s during that time I wrote my first EP “Harsh” which was produced by Abby Cole and mixed/mastered by Slowaves. I now have a long working relationship with Slowaves, and continue to work with him.

What would you say has changed for you since your first release? Do you approach music differently now?

I definitely put a lot more care and thought into my music now. I think when I first started I had all this empty space to say whatever I wanted, and that gets trickier once you’ve said a lot of what you wanted/needed to say. When I’m writing music now, I’m thinking more about using new chords, and different ways to express what I want to say lyrically. I think this is a positive-it keeps me growing.  

Well, I feel like I’m also just starting out. I still feel so small in the grand scheme of the music world. But what I would say to fellow artists is to make time for your art, even when you have so many other things going on, like work, life, school, relationships. It’s so important to make time to do the things you love, and if music is that, then squeeze it in. I’d also say try as hard as you can not to compare your success to anyone else’s. I have been such a victim to this in the past, and it’s immobilizing and doesn’t make you any better. Only worry about your own success and only support other people’s.

Which of your songs means the most to you and why?

“Like a Child” off my first EP “Harsh” is a very important song to me. It’s delicate and reminds me of this very innocent, youthful time in my life when I could spend time daydreaming and not worrying about anything else besides romantic relationships and trying to find love in some way or another. The lyrics to this song came to me so easily and I wrote in a matter of minutes.

I know I don’t have the power to change this, but the addition of Tiktok and social media being a contributor to the success of musicians is something that makes me incredibly anxious. I feel so pressured constantly to be creating content, and feel glued to social media in a sense, because if I’m not, no one will see what I create. I wish there was a different way to give smaller artists a voice without getting lucky enough to blow up on Tiktok.

Did you have artists during your childhood who you looked up to and who inspired you on your path? Who are your favorite artists today?

Absolutely. I grew up listening to so many different artists, and started spending hours alone in my bedroom listening to music once I turned 13. Back then, I was listening to the classics of Arctic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Passion Pit, Lana Del Rey, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Paper Kites…any indie musician really I was probably listening to. My music taste hasn’t changed too much since then. Artists I look to for inspiration today are Ethel Cain, Metric, Clairo, Arlo Parks, Arcy Drive, Loving, and Current Joys.?

Which albums have you listened to the most recently?

I’ve been listening to this one band Dear and the Headlights constantly. They’re one of my favorite bands of all time, and their album “Small Steps, heavy Hooves” has no skips. Other than that, Brat by Charli XCX, Voyager by Current Joys, and Inside the Marble by Margaux.

What is the inspiration behind your song "sleep with me"?

Sleep with me is a song about finally having a positive, hopeful outlook on love, relationships, and life. I wrote this song as a sort of relief-like thank god I am finally happy and out of this hole I felt like I was in for so long. It’s a hopeful song that’s much different from most of the songs I write, which tend to be focused on toxicity and negative self worth.